Next Topic, a forum for artists and art enthusiasts, will continue its exploration of new media art.

CentralTrak, the University’s artist residency and gallery, takes another look at new media and sonic art this week and also plans a one-night showing of video game designs created by UT Dallas students.

“It's been one of my missions as director to make CentralTrak a hub for activity, a community center for the arts,” said Heyd Fontenot, director of the artist residency. “I see the entire population of North Texas as a resource.”

On Thursday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m., CentralTrak will continue an artist talk series that includes regular meetings among artists, art enthusiasts, and art students and educators from across the Metroplex. The series, which is titled Next Topic, examines new media art.

“It's a powerful opportunity, getting access to the variety of artists working in the area. It's important for us to know what our friends and neighbors are doing in their studios,” Fontenot said.

For this week’s talk, new media artist Alejandro Borsani will be discussing his works, which explore the nature of perception and media representation. Borsani holds a MFA in electronic arts from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY, and an MFA in electronic visualization from the School of Art and Design at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

On Friday, Nov. 9, at 8 p.m., CentralTrak will launch ex mus, an experimental music concert series that highlights the works of local and international composers and musicians.

Musicians Andrew Jordan Miller, Jonathan Jackson, Chaz Underriner and Martian Back will kick off the series with interpretations of contempoarary Greek composer Anatassis Phillippakopoulous.

“The concert will approach music as sound design rather than as melodic entertainment. Concerts will become performance, improvisation and sonic art.”

Heyd Fontenot,director of CentralTrak

“The concert will approach music as sound design rather than as melodic entertainment. Concerts will become performance, improvisation and sonic art,” said Fontenot.

This week, CentralTrak will also present a one-night showcase of game design from UT Dallas students. Tiny Thumbs is a “pop-up video arcade,” curated by Arts and Technology PhD student Kyle Kondas. (Kondas discusses the show in a video blog.

“The exhibit will examine game design as a 21st-century art form. In the last several years, artists and game creators have collaborated to create new genres of ‘indie’ and ‘art’ games,” added Fontenot.

Participating designers and design teams will contribute titles such as "You Have to Win the Game," "Dis4ia," and "Constellations."

The event will take place on Saturday, Nov. 10, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

CentralTrak is located at 800 Exposition Ave. in the historic neighborhood of Deep Ellum, near downtown Dallas. For more information, check the CentralTrak website or call (214) 824-9302. All events are free and open to the public.